UPDATED 9.37pm:  Reports are emerging that the damaged remnants of a suitcase have been found washed ashore on the same Indian Ocean island where debris that may be from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 was discovered.

Investigators suggest the debris that was found off the east coast of Africa came from Boeing 777, the same make as missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

An initial assessment of photographs by Boeing shows that apparent airplane debris is consistent in appearance with a Boeing 777's flaperon.

Now a photo has emerged of a man holding the tattered remains of a bag, which was found washed ashore on the same island that the debris was discovered. 

However as of yet there is nothing linking the bag to the MH370. 

Aviation expert Geoff Thomas said if the debris are confirmed to be from a 777, then he can almost guarantee it will be from the Malaysia Airlines flight.

He said experts will also be looking at the serial number from the plane.

"They will be able to determine within 24 - 48 hours and say conclusively whether it is from the airplane. It won't be a matter of weeks or months, or anything like that."

PHOTOS: Debris could be missing flight MH370

The two-metre long piece of wreckage, which seemed to be part of a wing, was found by people cleaning up a beach.

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai told reporters in New York, after a UN Security Council debate on the Malaysian Airlines jet shot down over Ukraine, that he's sent a team to verify the wreckage.

The Boeing 777 aircraft went missing on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March, 2014, with 239 passengers and crew onboard.

A search off the West Australian coast has failed to find any trace of the plane.

Plane wreckage was discovered on the coast of the island of Reunion, located in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar.